With
more and more galas these days, don't
you find it difficult to choose from
all the different fashions worn by all
the starlets? The different fashion designers
have, in addition to a more leisurely
style designed to match a more comfortable
and relaxed lifestyle that conforms to
a contemporary pursuit of leisure, also
emphasized formal eveningwear, responding
to the requirements of different kinds
of evening parties. These events help
us keep abreast of high fashion!

What's
in this season? Is it oriental? Punk?
Soft? Or even classical? The Grammies,
Oscars, and award ceremonies held in
Hong Kong and Taiwan offer a feast for
your eyes, giving the media opportunities
to pick this year's most popular designers
and names. The most memorable ceremony
is the 71st Academy Awards with Nicole
Kidmann wearing the Asian-inspired chartreuse
gown. With this unique glimpse of Asian
style, Nicole Kidman became one of the
more stylish figures in the fashion-world.
The collaboration of fashion houses and
big name performers benefits both sides
of the relationship, giving them prominence
and leaving us to wait and see what will
be revealed next.

Taipei,
Shanghai, Hong Kong are lit up by different
galas, including champagne parties, showcases
for the latest designs, jewelry exhibits,
or even the opening for the latest lounge
bar. Have you prepared for the most exciting
parties found in today's social functions?
The abundance of different brands makes
choosing your own style and flavor a
pain. A few years go in Taiwan the taste
and enthusiasm in events did not come
close to Hong Kong's. But now all the
big labels can be found in the Taiwanese
market, causing a thriving local fashion
scene. We can now see who are the darlings
of the fashion world and who is now the
hot topic. In recent year's Celine's
Karen Mok line has made quite a stir--all
of us are waiting in anticipation for
the next collaboration.

There
are numerous classic brand names giving
new names a start, such as Galliano's
Christian Dior, Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel,
Christopher Bailey's Burberry Prosum,
and even Tom Ford who is leaving Gucci.
Instead of continuing traditional fashion
lines, designers from these fashion houses
have broken from tradition and decided
to create new and innovative styles.
They put out brave new designs, using
cutting edge style, meticulous tailoring
and the bold use of colors, for all to
see, giving us great offerings from the
fashion world and challenging and spurring
on our thoughts about fashion.

Sometimes
it seems that the well-know names in
the fashion world are the only choice.
European independent designers however
have always attracted me, and so I suggest
Italian or London street fashion. They
are the best choices for not only bringing
out your own individual characteristics,
but also for not hurting you in the pocketbook!